Biopic To Be Made On Original Who Manager Kit Lambert

Original manager of the Who, Kit Lambert is headed to the big screen in a newly conceived biopic. Lambert, along with the recently deceased Chris Stamp, guided the Who through their formative years up through the early 1970s and now, according to the Hollywood Reporter, a film on Lambert's life is being planned with assistance from both Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend.

Lambert discovered the Who in 1964 when he and Stamp were planning to make a movie about a rock and roll band and the rest, as they say, is history. The duo went on to form Track Records, signing not only the Who, but also Jimi Hendrix, Golden Earring and others.

The son of a classical composer and conductor, Lambert saw potential for greater artistic development in rock music beyond three-chord love songs, and pushed Townshend to explore deeper musical and lyrical ideas. Townshend's first lengthy piece, the 1966 "mini-opera" 'A Quick One, While He's Away,' was written at Lambert's suggestion.

The Who fired Lambert in 1971 over a variety of business dealings and his escalating drug use. Lambert died in 1981 at the age of 45 of a cerebral hemorrhage after falling down a flight of stairs at his mother's house following a night of heavy drinking.

The film, which is to be directed by actor Cary Elwes ('The Pricess Bride' and 'Bram Stoker's 'Dracula''), is set to begin shooting in the spring of 2013. The screenplay was written by former Mojo magazine editor Pat Gilbert. Townshend and Daltrey will lend a hand supplying information and Who are allowing their music to be used in the film.